How Bacteroides vulgatus strains shape gut inflammation and immunity
Genetic determinants of Bacteroides vulgatus colonization fitness and host inflammatory responses
Researchers will compare different strains of the common gut bacterium Bacteroides vulgatus to see which genes and molecules make some strains promote or reduce gut inflammation in people with inflammatory bowel conditions.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Duke University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Durham, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11321596 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project will sequence and compare the genomes of many human-derived Bacteroides vulgatus strains to map genetic differences across the species. Scientists will measure metabolites those strains produce and link those molecules to specific genes. Selected strains will be tested in germ-free (gnotobiotic) mice to observe how they affect intestinal inflammation and immune responses. The team will connect findings back to patterns seen in people with gut inflammation to identify strain features tied to harmful or protective effects.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with inflammatory bowel disease or chronic gut inflammation, and healthy volunteers willing to provide stool samples, would be the most useful participants for supplying strains or samples.
Not a fit: People with conditions unrelated to gut inflammation or those seeking an immediate clinical treatment are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this basic research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could identify specific bacterial genes or strain markers that point to harmful or protective gut microbes and inform future diagnostics or microbiome-targeted therapies.
How similar studies have performed: Previous animal and human association studies show that different bacterial strains can influence inflammation, but systematically linking B. vulgatus genetic variation to host inflammation is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Durham, United States
- Duke University — Durham, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Rawls, John F — Duke University
- Study coordinator: Rawls, John F
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.